i had a similar thing happen but they actually called me the NEXT day at like 7:30am! nearly missed it cause i wasnt expecting a call that early. maybe they'll surprise you tomorrow morning?

Just a quick update check - did ESD ever call you back? If not, I would definitely recommend calling them again. When claims are in adjudication for 5+ weeks, it sometimes means there's a documentation issue they need from you that might not be clearly marked in your online portal. Make sure to specifically ask if there are any documents or information they're waiting for from you. Sometimes the system doesn't properly notify claimants about pending document requests.

my sister got fired for "poor performance" too but she got approved for benefits. they told her it was because the company couldn't prove it was actually her fault or something. she picked up a part time job while waiting for approval and it didn't mess up her claim at all. she still got the full 26 weeks but it took longer to use them all up because some weeks she only got partial payment. its a good way to keep money coming in during the waiting period for sure!!

I mean cmon this is ridiculous right? "Adjudication" is just a fancy word for "we're going to make you wait forever". I've been through this whole thing twice now. My advice - ALWAYS work whatever job you can get while waiting. Report it properly. The system is designed to keep money from people. They WANT you to give up. Don't do it! Fight for every penny you deserve. The whole system is designed to frustrate people into giving up.

Have you checked with your local WorkSource office? Sometimes they have free legal clinics or can refer you to pro bono attorneys who help with unemployment cases. Also, make sure to request all your claim records through a Privacy Act request before your hearing so you know exactly what your employer said about your separation.

One more thing - when you have your hearing, the judge will ask both you and your former employer questions. Let your employer speak first and take notes on what they say. Often they'll contradict themselves or admit to things that actually help your case. Stay calm and stick to facts even if they say things that aren't true. The judge cares about documentation more than emotional arguments.

my cusin works at the unemployment office and she says lots of people have truble with the website so dont feel bad!! but she says the fax number is (800) 301-1796 if u want to fax ur stuff instead of uploading it. the library can help with faxing if u dont have a fax machine

I understand your technology concerns! If you do end up trying to upload, here's a step-by-step guide: 1. Log into your eServices account 2. Click on "Upload a Document" under the Quick Links section 3. Select document type from the dropdown menu 4. Click "Browse" to find the file on your computer 5. Click "Upload" A helpful tip: The Tacoma Public Library offers free scanning services if you need to convert paper documents to digital files. They can help walk you through the process too. But the WorkSource center others mentioned is probably your best option for in-person assistance with the whole process.

For anyone dealing with overpayment issues, here are some important steps to follow: 1. Always appeal within the 30-day deadline if you disagree with an overpayment determination 2. Request a hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) if your reconsideration is denied 3. Document everything - save screenshots of all submissions and communications 4. Submit any evidence of your eligibility through eServices and by fax (yes, they still use fax) 5. If your appeal is denied, you can request a payment plan or hardship waiver I've helped dozens of people through this process, and persistence is key. Even after a denial, ESD periodically reviews cases, especially when policies change. In 2025, they've been more generous with forgiving older overpayments, particularly those related to work search requirements or employer-reported earnings discrepancies.

I recommend checking your mail carefully for the next few weeks. In my experience, ESD often sends the official forgiveness letter several days (or even weeks) after they've already zeroed out the balance in their system. The letter should explain their reasoning and confirm that the matter is closed. This is an important document to keep for your records.

just curious whats the company they say u worked for? my cousin had this happen with some place called evergreen staffing and it turned out they mixed up ssn's with someone with similar name

Update us on what happens! Your case sounds resolvable but you need to be persistent. Document everything - dates you called, documents you submitted, etc. This will be helpful if you need to escalate the case later. Most importantly, keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication so you'll get backpay once it's resolved.

To answer your other question - the waiting week doesn't count against your total benefit amount. If you're eligible for 26 weeks of benefits, you'll still get 26 weeks of payments after serving the waiting week. It's just that your first payment will come after week 2, assuming there are no other issues with your claim. Make sure you're completing your three job search activities each week (including for the waiting week) and documenting them properly. That's a common reason claims get held up.

has anyone had luck getting through on the phones? i've been trying at different times but always get the "high call volume, try again later" message then it hangs up!

btw they do actually check ur docs so dont make stuff up. my friend tried to claim hardship but they denied him cuz his bank statements showed he had savings

Quick update on my situation from last year - I've been completely in the clear for about 6 months now since my waiver was approved. No collections, no further notices, nothing. Just to give you some peace of mind that once it's approved, it really is taken care of!

im confused... if you got a new job why did you need unemployment?? aren't you supposed to stop claiming once you have a job lined up?

Quick update for everyone - my claim was paid retroactively for all 8 weeks it had been pending. I think the key factors that helped were: 1) Having MULTIPLE hardship documents, not just one 2) The letter explaining exactly why I needed immediate action 3) Following up with a phone call to ESD after sending the email (I just mentioned I had submitted hardship documents).

One important thing to note: if your appeal has been pending for over 30 days, you can actually file a request for expedited processing. There's a form you can submit that essentially says your case has exceeded the normal processing timeframe. Check under the 'Forms and Publications' section in your eServices account. Also, when you do reach ESD, be sure to specifically ask them to look at your appeal status. The regular agents can sometimes see what's causing the delay even if they can't directly fix the issue themselves.

After reading all these comments, I think your best three options are: 1. Use a service like Claimyr to actually reach an ESD agent who can look at your file 2. File that expedited processing form for your appeal that was mentioned 3. Contact your state representative's office for help The governor's office route is unlikely to help based on everyone's experiences. The most important thing is proving you were laid off rather than quitting. Make sure you have your termination notice, any emails about the layoff, and contact information for your former employer's HR department ready. The ESD adjudicator will likely contact your employer to verify the circumstances.